Question

Read the excerpt from The Diary of Anne Frank.

Mrs. Frank. Peter, I'm glad you are to be with us.

Peter. Yes, Mrs. Frank.

(Mrs. Frank goes to join Mr. Frank and Margot.)

(During the following scene Mr. Frank helps Margot and Mrs. Frank to hang up their clothes. Then he persuades them both to lie down and rest. The Van Daans in their room above settle themselves. In the main room Anne and Peter remove their shoes. Peter takes his cat out of the carrier.)

Anne. What's your cat's name?

Which best describes the purpose of the stage directions in this excerpt?

They encourage the reader to pretend that he or she is a part of the scene.
They tell the reader what each person is doing without forcing dialogue.
They build suspense by telling the reader what is going on without dialogue.
They encourage the reader to imagine what each person might be thinking.

Answer 1

The best description of the purpose of the stage directions in this excerpt is:

**They tell the reader what each person is doing without forcing dialogue.**

The stage directions provide information about the characters' actions and interactions, helping the reader visualize the scene and understand the context without relying solely on dialogue.